"Once You Live Outside Of Kempsey You Will Appreciate It Better"

In my experience, and I've lived around the world, I'd much rather live here than just about most places. Especially when you consider weather and climate as much as all the other necessary factors.

Much of the negative comes from people who haven't ever left Kempsey - they've been spoit for years but as the 'world' changed and morals slid Kempsey experienced crime for the first time. But it is no different anywhere else now. Actually I think we have it far better. Local Kempsey people are just spoilt and they like to winge a bit. I say, 'get over it, get on with it' (or go experience another part of the world) and enjoy one of the best places on earth. Thanks to some of the 'negative' people they keep away the masses and keep our town affordable - it's one of Australia's best kept secrets and you wait and see, it's going to get a big boost over the next 20yrs when people crave fresh water and clean soil. Yeah, you can have your polluted cities any day!

We can drive over to Port Macquarie and jump on a plane to go the Melbourne, Sydney or anywhere for a flirtations weekend in the big lights and then come home with our shopping bags to the quiet, pleasant, affordable lifestyle.

Work from home with a home based business. Come and buy cheap land and build your own business - midway between Sydney and Brisbane - loads of space and fresh water.

I've never had a problem. I walk at night, in the right areas - it's like anywhere in Australia/every town has it's seedy part of town. Just stay out of it.

All we need is motivated individuals not wingers. We need people to see the wonderful opportunities here, open businesses, supply the gaps, keep it affordable and 'do something different' than what the competitor down the road does.

We're ready for ya! Come, bring your kids and bring some great ideas and energy. But remember, you gotta slide into it here - not run into here. It's still a little slow on the uptake! It is the country after all. And I love it.

Just be prepare to have to say hello to people as you go do your groceries! If you don't like being happy, stay where you are!

utopiacoastHappi, I agree whole-heartedly with your comments. After growing up in the Macleay Valley, I returned two years ago with my two children to give them the same upbringing I enjoyed. I am degree qualified and have had a great career and it took me no time at all to find a fantastic job (two, actually, I had to make a tough choice). I don't really understand the negative elements in the town who don't appear to appreciate what we have, or see the many opportunities that exist, however I choose to focus the positive. Having travelled a lot, and experienced many different towns and cities within and outside Australia, it just doesn't get any better than Kempsey, South West Rocks, Hat Head, Crescent Head, Bellbrook, Gladstone, Smithtown and all the other hidden gems that exist here in the Macleay. My social life is rich, access to the bigger world is right at my doorstop, I am surrounded by happy, friendly and relaxed friends and colleagues who share a love of a simple life that affords us the luxury of time and space. I not only don't regret my decision to relocate "back home", I thank my lucky stars every day that I made this choice. My kids, now at highschool, are the happiest they have ever been, and they are achieving amazing academic results at local schools (one of them a public highschool). And as a single mother, I don't ever feel unsafe or vulnerable. I treat everyone I meet with courtesy and respect and I take the same basic precautions I've taken my entire life, regardless of where we live, to keep my family, my home and my possessions safe. I can't speak highly enough of this place and it's community - there are so many wonderful people here, from all walks of life, with a shared passion for the Macleay lifestyle.

2yrs+

PaulR1What can you tell me about south west rocks as a place to live and work and rent for a professional older man please?

2yrs+

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"Kempsey"

One place I never want to live ever again. Crime rates very very high. anti social behaviours. Cars and homes broken in to.
no street is safe enough.
Best options crescent head, port Macquarie, south west rocks or surrounding areas.

"Pacific Highway Bottleneck"

Kempsey is one of the larger towns on the NSW mid north coast, but is plagued by the heavy traffic of the Pacific Highway running through its main street. So the peaceful country setting is destroyed by traffic lights, trucks and frustrated parkers. Perched on the very pretty Macleay River, the town has some lovely riverfront parks, a large RSL club, several pubs, motels along the highway, large stores including Target Country, furniture and carpet retailers, and the usual smaller business found in a country town.

PedroVKempsey has one of the most beautiful surrounds of any towns I have visited. Unfortunately Kempsey has also major problems with indigenous crime and releases from the local correctional centre. It is unsafe and not a good place to bring up a family. Tourists are robbed at the local hotspots and bashings are frequent. The police cannot control the crime due to a lack of legislation and resources. One just has to walk the main streets to see this. Business has largely deserted Kempsey due to this issue. I was abused last time I went into a shopping centre there by local indigenous people who were intent on getting drunk in the doorway of the centre. Explore the surrounds by all means but avoid the town if you can and watch your personal safety.

PedroVHey Kempsey Lover. I lived in Kempsey for 18 years I know whats its like. I got sick of being broken into and having stuff stolen out of my shed. I have also traveled around the world extensively. I think you are the naive one and obviously never venture out past your front doors at night. You are big on saying everyone is naive without really qualifying your opinion or provided evidence that these robberies and such don't occur. Yes there is a lot that is great about KMC but there are lots of problems too and they aren't going away anytime soon. Even the country areas are no longer immune. Take a look at the crime stats for assault, burglary and theft on the NSW Justice site for a clearer view.

2yrs+

truth07Last time I went to Kempsey I was threatened in front of my young children that I will get my throat slit by two local feral girls, I was appalled! I have travelled every where and have never ever been threatened in my life! We will never ever stop here at all! Oh and not to mention young indigenous kids as young as four, had a handful of stones and threw them at my car all in the clear view of parents! Appalling plave

Jan 04, 2016

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"You get what you pay for"

Most importantly, I'm not an agent & I'm not trying to sell a house & I run a business in town & if anything these comments will hurt my business not help it, so my word counts. Kempsey has a large population of wonderful older people trying to stay in their homes as long as possible. When this generation has gone, I fear the already troubled demographic will deteriorate. It is a low socio economic town where the noisy strong alpha male types prey upon the peaceful people and eventually drive them from town. The baby bonus has produced a large population of children born into welfare dependent households in gladiator academy areas. These children are now approaching an age where they can steal, destroy & terrorise at will without retribution from the law whose hands are tied. Unregistered trail bikes and cars rev up & down quiet streets with baffles removed from exhausts. Unregistered dogs pick through garbage on street curbs and crime goes unreported because people fear losing their insurance. Yes there are good days & some quiet areas still but bit by bit the social fabric crumbles. If you are a noisy thoughtless alpha male who likes excessively loud trail bikes, music, dogs that bark all night, noisy hot cars with thumping stereos & tyres screaming down the streets and little culture, you'll love it here. If you are a quiet peaceful thoughtful person who likes the arts, culture and a 'red neck' free environment, the council's struggles to keep on top of by-laws, can make it very difficult for you to be as happy as you could be if you bought closer to the beach an hour north or south plus you'll save yourself the long drive to specialist dental & medical care just when you really need it. If the purpose of life is happiness & peace I feel your odds are better elsewhere. PS. Be careful on some streets for rock throwing. My car has been stoned several times.

KempseyloverWhat a biased and uninformed opinion. I have travelled the globe and lived in many parts of Australia and don't reckon you will get much better than Kempsey. Its a small place and the crime does get noticed but it's no worse than any where else, had a choice to live in both Coffs and Port and tell you Kempsey has everything to offer and chose it hands down, Crystal, maybe you should find somewhere else to live and you might realise as i figure you must be pretty naive

shatoomyI have been reading a lot of comments on Kempsey and I must say that I live at Dondingalong and drive down Middleton street several times a day and have never had any thing happen yes its untidy and there is some rubbish in the street and the dogs and kids roam the street but its not nearly as bad as what has been commented on, I lived in Port Macquarie for 10 years and that place is all about aesthetic appeal but the trouble in Port is just as bad if not worse than Kempsey its just prettier and more money spent on it. We left Port Macquarie and we lived 2 streets from the beach we sold up and moved to Dondingalong the best move we ever made the people are warm and welcoming we made more friends in a few weeks than we did in 10years in Port I am well travelled and have lived in many different towns from South of NSW to Redcliffe in QLD I now live in paradise and will never leave and I want to run for council one day because Kempsey has heaps of potential to be a spectacular town the bypass has now opened and the town is so much quieter come have a look and experience it for your self Yes we have problems but we address those problems and not sweep them under the carpet like other towns such as Port Macquarie. There is heaps of business opportunity we are a town that needs some serious money injected into it and the developers could have a field day traditionally bypassed towns do really well and boom . Please dont listen to the obviously jaded people who have not experience other areas and dont listen to gossip Kempsey is a great town we own and operate a business here as well as I work at one of the local hospitals it is a great town who needs some more great people who can fall in love with it.

2yrs+

BluesAgentI am local, not for much longer. Thank God!!!! Crystals opinion is not naïve at all!! I have owned a business here also. There are some other valid comments previously also. Yes it is close to beautiful areas. The Bypass going though has not been a blessing to the place. Businesses are closing down. Coles and Woolworths are buying out the small business owners and the vitality is lacking. Yes there probably are worse places without doubt, but there are also better places! The friendly country feel is diminishing with the ongoing crime and the ever present low income slog. Hostility and aggression is becoming the norm. Except for the guy who preaches outside Woolworths. I have witnessed break and enters way too many times. A man drove his car so fast down the street he lost control and just missed my neighbours house.That's not even half of the things I've heard. Also beware if your moving to Crescent Head as break and enters happen there too. And if you don't drink alcohol, you wont be likely to have any friends. But if you have to come here, get a good dog that barks. Thieves seem to bypass the dogs if they don't bait them first. Also if you fancy a pleasant walk with your dog forget it. Every dog in the neighbourhood will yell that your in the street and your own dog is likely to go absolutely nuts as a result. I hope that things improve for Kempsey but as with Grafton, Taree and some other places, local business just cant compete with Coles and Woolworths. I don't hold much hope for the place and I wish it could be different but that's just the way it's going.

"Lots of Nice People, Cheap Living , But Lots Of Anti-Social Behaviour and Cime"

Born and raised there. Great for people who love the outdoors, with beautiful river and best beaches in Australia. But Kempsey CBD is full of socio problems and petty crime, plus a huge amount of break and enters. Avoid south kempsey at all costs and be warned about walking around town after dark. Also the Area between Sea St, Cochrane St, Tozer St and Leith St is very dangerous and littered with antisocial behaviour. Sporting Kempsey is very strong and punches well above its weight. Nicer areas include the beach towns of Crescent head, South West Rocks, Aldavilla and some areas of East Kempsey. Euroka is nice but you have to drive thru the dangerous middleton street to get to town. Bricks, rocks beer bottles and the occasional car jacking can be a problem on middleton street. Break and enters and home invasions are a problem in waves when certain people or groups are out of custody. Youth crime is a real issue as well. High unemployment and very high youth unemployment. Beware of renting or buying in parts of South Kempsey, or parts of west Kempsey. Highest recipient of welfare of any Federal Govt seat in the nation. This all sounds bad, and it is compared to its neighbouring towns of Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour, but Kempsey lifestyle beats the hell out of cheap suburbs in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Newcastle.

jayne78Hi there, i'm from south of Melbourne on the Mornington Peninsula, so i don't know the streets that you are talking about. I would love to move to kempsey in the next few years, and want to know how bad the unemployment really is?? i don't want to move there just to have to move again to find work. It sounds like there is a lot of crime there, but it is everywhere. I love it here on the Peninsula but it is now too busy now with a jump in population over the last few years. So my family want to move to a more relaxed lifestyle. (We holiday in Crescent head and Scotts head every year) and love the atmosphere.

2yrs+

virginiabonewe only have such a high unemployment rate because we have a very low education rate with most young people dropping out at or before year 10. if you have any type of qualification then getting work is real easy, there are also a lot of bar attendant and waitperson jobs usually advertised. i would much rather raise my family here than in any suburb of sydney

2yrs+

areyoudeadsetIts not because most people drop out of high school, there are no jobs.I speak on behalf of the young adults of Kempsey.I'm 19 years old with numerous qualifications but because of lack of job opportunities (Apart from the Coles or Woolworths jobs that float around from time to time)Apart from retail there is nothing, this town is not big enough business wise to allow everyone to have jobs.The exact reason people move away from this town, don't come here as you'll be lucky to get out

2yrs+

areyoudeadsetBecause of the lack of opportunities I've been without REAL work for almost 4 months***

2yrs+

anarind181I am looking at buying a house on Clarence Ryan Avenue, or Tozer st. Both of these houses are beautiful and seem to have a good amount of security. Will I be making a mistake by Buying either of these places? I'm moving with young children and animals as well so i have to be careful. Also, which area would be safer of the two? Thanks

2yrs+

condogClarence ryan can be sketchy in parts. Tozer ok depending on location. The middle of tozer is best between wide and broughton st. And the part near north st is ok, but you dont wantt o be on north st due to problematic foot traffic. Avoid the end closest to town definitely avoid most of south kempsey particularly anywhere near middleton or west st. Avoid areas between cochrane st and sea st near north st end.

2yrs+

condogThe beach villages of Crescent Head and South West rocks are the pick of the area, but it involves travel. Euroka area is nice as is aldavilla. And crescent head road area is oretty good. East part of East kempsey is pretty good also.

2yrs+

condogIt lacks growth so new employment and turnover of staff is low. Good skilled people will find some work, but compared to bigger towns and more progressive towns employment will prospects are limited. Nott he type of place you would give up a job to move to, hoping to find work when you arrive. If your prepared to do anything and mix in you will find some work. But if you move hear and wait for a job in your field to come up, it could be a very long wait.

anarind181Thanks condog, I've decided to go with the place on tozer street since it seems like a good spot and it is within the area you suggested would be a lesser evil. Thanks again, as for employment, there aren't many opportunities here in wauchope anyway. Any recommendations for childcare?

2yrs+

PaulR1what can people please tell me about South West rocks down side, as I have experienced the positive. Rental areas, troubled peoples, Kempsey overflow of problems? Safety from troubled people?

2yrs+

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"The cheapest and best lifestyle you will find"

Thinking of getting out of the rat race then come to the beautiful Kempsey shire. We have great schools,shopping and the most down to earth folk you could ever meet. I shop at the super IGA a much better deal than the big 2 4cents a litre credit plus a christmas bonus. Buy a near new 3 bedroom brick home $289k in a quiet street.
Of course we lack employment oppurtunities for the young ones but we can now overcome this with a deputity Premier as our State member.
One needs to look at Jobsearch there are more job oppurtunities here than Port,yes we are waiting for national recognition as the half way mark between Sydney and Brisbane.

"I used to be a local"

I lived in Kempsey for 16 years and the only reason that I had to leave was to find work so had to move to Sydney. I miss Kempsey with its great lifestyle and people. Once the bypass has gone though and got rid of the highway traffic I beleive Kempsey will thrive with the peace and tranquillity of a growing country town.

"Friendly & Fantastic"

"Crystals" What an absolute load of twat.

I don't know what part of Kempsey you live in but I have never seen any hoons reving up and down the streets or dogs in garbage bins. Every town has its own set of social issues and Kempsey is no exception but the amount of exaggeration in you comments astounds me.

Kempsey and surrounds is a great part of the country with stunning beaches, beautiful rivers, mountains and friendly people. Life after all is what you make it.

It is very disappointing to hear a local business person degrading the town in this manner "Shame on You"

srper2KempseyLocal, Don't criticize Crystals for being honest. An elderly man died after being bashed in his own home and many people live in fear due to the criminals that roam your town. Many people are repeatedly robbed, whether home or not, as the scum that rob them are happy to break in while people are home and threaten them with harm if they intervene. We had a brick thrown at our car on more than one occassion - why else are there warning signs for motorists as they enter your "lovely" town. Houses have been removed from blocks in west and south Kempsey, because they cannot safely be rented and they are repeatedly vandalised. Wake up and stop lying to people on this forum....

"Great Place To Live!"

Kempsey is situated half way between Brisbane and Sydney, and only a 40 minute drive to Port Macquarie. Kempsey has Magnificent Beaches, Rivers, Mountains Camping areas and National Parks. Kempsey can cater for any life style you are seeking from running a business to relaxing on the beach. It has some great schools and day care centres as well as a new shopping centre which has a variety of shops. We have a great RSL Club and a variety of great places to dine out. We have some great Motels Hotels and Pubs. We have some fantastic areas to live in where the neighbours are amazing!

No matter where you go there is always something you will not like about a place but life after all is what you make it!